Ichigo woke up, his legs felt like jello, and his hands were numb, he didn't want to open his eyes, he didn't want to return to the world around him, his heart thumped, he felt suffocated, he fellt pressured, this was the firs time he had ever felt this way, espically about her, he didn't no why, but that morning, he had felt something new, something he didn't want to feel, something he was afraid to feel, atleast, he felt that way at first, but as he retreated to the sweet memory, a new light shone on his feelings *flashback*

It was morning, Ichigo rose up, surrendering to the sunlight that entered his room, he turned to the closet, he felt something strange, a feeling of emptyness, he wobbled over to the closet, he nocked on the door, it felt hollow and there was no response, he slid the door open slightly, (he had never opened the door sine Rukia started said living there, either she opened it or she said that it was ok for him to open it,) then he opened the door a little more, the small girl that usually sat inside, ready to lighten the world, was gone, Ichigo raised an eyebrow, the thumping of his heart sped up, like it did wen she was in danger, or wen she ran away for the first time, he hear the door open, and turned around, there she was, Rukia Kuchki, and for the first time, he had seen her as more than, "Rukia," as more than, "Soul Reaper," and as alot more than, "Idiot," he saw her as Rukia, the girl with a bird's name, the girl that's so petit, she could break with a singal touch, and yet, she could her owne, he didn't hear her name with a dull tone, he heard her name with a swift, magical tone, "Rukia," she rubbed the back of her head with a towel, her other hand still on the door nob, a beautiful pink robe surronded her small body, her violet eyes were closed and her pale skin finally had some couler to it, her cheeks were deep red, beads of sweat and water trickled down her, her hair was messy, and the steam from the shower lingered on her still, Ichigo stared at her, 'How beautiful,' he thought, not because she had just come out of the shower, (possibly inspite of it) but because she really looked like a woman, an elegant image of beauty, that stepped lightly on the carpted floor of his room, "Oh, good morning, Ichigo," her voice held a deep elegance to it, that surronded him like flowing water, "Mornin'" he replied, it was the first time he had felt this strong impulse, this thing that told him that he was in love with her, but he didn't want to feel that way, he didn't want to be in love, he didn't want to become one of those guys that was all over her, or that would never leave her alone, (like Keigo) or even one of the guys in between, he wanted to keep getting called an idiot, getting abused everytime he insulted her, he didn't want Rukia to become one of those girls that cried if he called her "idiot" or that would say, "Hang on, let me finish my make up," one of those girls that never left him alone, that wasn't who she was, she was strong and independent, he didn't want that to change, so he couldn't fall in love with her, *end flashback*

Ichigo smiled at the memory, as he opened his eyes from his nap, he realized that maybe, they could stillbe that way, they could still call eachother "stupid," or "idiot," and they could still fight about everything, just playfully, you no, minus the multiple feats of phisical abuse, Ichigo closed his eyes, the warmth of the steam and the sent of Lavender surronding him ounce more, as the robbed Rukia stepped into his mind, he opened his eyes again, he leaned down and looked at Rukia, who was sprawled out on the floor, drawing, with a cookie hanging out of her mouth, he got off of his bed, his legs just now regaining feeling, he laye next to her, "Wat'cha drawin'?" Rukia looked up and raised an eyebrow, "Bunnies, why?" "Just askin'," Rukia looked at him again, then returned to her drawings, Ichigo was acting weird, he smiled, his eyes seemed to smile to, they held a softness to them that was unusual to see in him, she pu a hand to his head, "Are you feeling ok?" he lightly grabbed her rist and dropped it down to the floor, her eyes were big and wide, "Do you want to play cards?" he asked, kindness dripping in his voice, "Wat is 'cards'?" she asked, his smile grew brighter, the fact that she could be so smart and yet so obliviouse to the world around her, made him love the girl even more, he could tell wen she was pretending to be confused for watever purpose, but there were many times that she was genieunly confused, so many terms, items, objects, ways of living, so many thing were unused in Soul Society, "Seretie" actually means "Court Of Pure Souls" so it's no wounder that wen Ichigo told her tat Keigo was hitting on her she said, "Keigo dosen't hit me," it sort of reminded him of how unpure humans are, and it sort of made him happy that he and Rukia were Soul Reapers, "Earth to Ichigo!" she waved a hand in front of him, that was another term he had taught her, Ichigo pulled out a deck of cards and shuffled, "Wat do you want to learn first?" he asked

After hours of card games, and multiple peices of candy later, Rukia was learning the last card game that Ichigo new, poker, earlier Ichigo had decided that it would be more fun if they ad waggers, Rukia was easily board with cards, untill waggers were involved, and after he lost the rights to the first shower of the morning, along with the rights to his bed, he decided to bet candy, mostly because other things that Rukia wanted included: 24 hour rights t the remote, cash, a chappy doll, a coupon to kick Ichigo in the shin wenever she wanted, and his pants, (That, is just to annoy him,) Well, he wasn't about to lose all that, so he bet candy, luckily most of it was bunny shaped, and if it wasn't, it was chocalate, and she never ate the bunny shaped stuff, "Wat's the diffrence between poker and strip poker?" she asked, "Wat?!Were did you learn that?!" "This guy named Weasel said that wen I learn to play cards we could play strip poker," she sounded so innocent wen she said that, "From now on, wait on me, and, were did you see Weasel?" "Why?" "Because I want to find him so that I can shove his head into the nearest ant hill," "I meant why can't I stop and ask for directions, but that's good to no to," "Because guys will take advantege of innocent looking girls like you, and all things considered, you're easy to take advantege of," "First of all, wat do you mean by that? Second of all, nu-uh! Men just don't like to ask for directions," a hint of anger rang in her voice, "First of all, it's just that people use terms that you dont understand, in fact, it's a good thing that you didn't no how to play cards, or you'd be in a terrible situation, second of all, so wat?! Women can't read maps!" "We can so!" "Can not!" "Can so!" "Can not!" "Can so!" "If you can read maps then we can ask for directions!" "Nuh0uh!" "Uh-huh!" they were now standing, the meaningless argument went on and on, untill Rukia got fed up and pushed Ichigo into the closet and came at him witha pillow, he swept his foot under her to nock her off her balence, it worke all to well, Rukia was on top of Ichigo, who was pinnned to the floor, their eyes met, Rukia had him pinned, they didn't get up right away, Rukia's heart fluttered, she wanted to kiss him, he held her rists, and the metal chain inside her her head snapped, she couldn't take it anymore, her head lowered, she was about to kiss him, but her Soul Phone rang, just before she could,

Rukia streched her arms up, the rain pelted the window, but that was ok, the thunder clapped and the lightening flashed, that on the other hand, wasn't ok, her heart jumped with each clap, with each flash, Ichigo put a hand on her shoulder, she jumped slightly, Ichigo new that the girl was scared of thunder storms, all things considered, he new that Rukia was going to kiss him earlier, and he also new that they weren't immature children that thought of coodies or being a wimp wen they were close to eachother, with a paticuarly loud clap of thunder, Rukia grabbed ahold of Ichigo's waist, she cenched onto him tightly, he encircled her with his arms, letting her find comfort in his chest, she let go after a moment, "S-sorry," "Don't appoligize, say, you're scared, I'm tired, you're welcome to sleep in my bed," his blush deepened, so did her's, but she smiled and nodded softly, they crawled into Ichigo's bed, Rukia fell asleep quickly, she was so beautiful, so fragil, so preciouse, such a wounderful soul, in such a little body, he brushed a stray hair out of her eyes, and she was so strong too, her breathing was sweet, a little cluttered, not like snoring though, it was cute, like a puppy, kind of, oh, Ichigo couldn't discribe it, she rolled over and clung onto Ichigo, they were now facing eachother, Ichigo ran his finger through the small creases of her palm, he new it tickled, weather or not she woke up, it didn't matter to him, sure enough, she did, "Was'a'matta?" she slurred, still half asleep, he kissed her lips softly, barely making cntact, her eyes shot open, she smiled, they kissed again, but it was no longer sweet and soft, it was more passionate, her lips tasted like strawberries, he ran his hand through he silky hair, she wrapped her arms around his neck, they broke apart for air, smileing and breathing heavily, catching her breath, Rukia wispered in Ichigo's ear, "My love for you," in a high sing~song voice, (but not the creepy kind as these are actually song lyrics) "My love for you," he repeated, not singing however, "Why not sing?" Rukia asked, "Because, I don't sing," "It'd be cute," "Cute? Ok, go back to sleep," "Why?" "You're even cuter wen you sleep," "Why?" "Well, for one, you make this cute little breathing noise," it was dark but Ichigo could tell that she was smiling, and questioning him, this love was pure and eternal THE END